London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1915
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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24
MEASLES.
An outbreak of Measles occurred on the Nautical Training Ship " Worcester."
Each case as it occurred was isolated, and the necessary measures of disinfection carried
out, but with so many " susceptible " boys on board, who were not protected by a
previous attack, a number of cases was certain to occur.
MEASLES AND ENTERIC FEVER.
The s.s. "Ceramic," of Liverpool, 135,474, arrived at Gravesend on the 4th March,
from Australia. The master reported "no sickness" on arrival. On the 23rd March,
information was received that cases of Measles and Enteric Fever were landed from this
vessel at Avonmouth, the patients being soldiers. The owners were communicated
with, stating that such sickness should have been reported on arrival at Gravesend. On
the 30th March, they replied that, " 'We will have instructions issued that all cases of
illness, no matter of what nature, must be declared on arrival at Gravesend." An
explanation from the master as to why he did not report the cases was asked lor, and
the master replied that, " On my arrival at Gravesend on the 4th March, I reported to
the Customs when boarded, that we had Measles on board during the homeward voyage.
The ship's doctor saw the port doctor at the same time, I understood that he had
reported to the port doctor."
The ship's surgeon also reported that no cases of dangerous infectious disease were
landed at Avonmouth, only several cases of non-infectious disease under the direction of
a military doctor.
TABLE XV. (German Measles.)
| Date. | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry, and Official Number. | Where from. | Number of Cases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915. Aug. 24 | s.s. "Clan Macewen," of Glasgow, 133,053. | Sydney | 10 | Landed at Suez. |
| 10 |
TABLE XVI. (Erysipelas.)
| Date. | Name of Vessel, Port of Registry, and Official Number. | Where from. | No. of Cases. | How dealt with. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1915. Jan. 30 | H.M.T. " Saxonia," lying off Southend | - | Removed to Port Sanitary Hospital. | |
| May 8 | s.s. "Lady Londonderry," of Sunderland, 123,955. | - | 1 | Removed to Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich. |
| 8 | Hopper No. 4 | Barrow Deeps | 1 | Ditto. |
| 17 | No. 1 Customs and Excise Office, London Dock | 1 | Isolated at home. | |
| 20 | s.s. " Tlieologos " (Greek) | Alexandria | 1 | Removed to Wliitechapel Infirmary. |
| July 15 | s.s. "Corinthian," of Glasgow, 111,257 | Montreali | 1 | Allowed to proceed home. |
| Oct. 20 | s.s. " Parisiana,'' of Liverpool, 127,465 | Buenos Ay res | 1 | Isolated on board. |
| Nov. 9 | s.s. "Crimdon" (Sweden) | Hernosanil | 1 | Ditto. |
| Dec. 20 | Training Ship "Exmouth," lying off Grays | 1 | Removed to Ship's Hospital on shore. | |
| Total | 9 | |||